London Festival of Architecture 2012

The Union Press temporary small-scale printing house, by Public Works, has popped up on SE1’s Union Street for the duration of the festival

The Union Press temporary small-scale printing house, by Public Works, has popped up on SE1’s Union Street for the duration of the festival

With the 2012 London Festival of Architecture reaching a crescendo this weekend, we thought it time to bring you the highlights of what has been a fortnight of thought-provoking architectural celebrations. Under the theme of the ’Playful City’ - referencing the impending Olympics, but also appealing to the child within use - this year’s events spanned a variety of ’hubs’ across the British capital.

The first weekend honed in on Southwark, where community events like the Gibbon’s Rent Garden, the Union Street Printing Press, by Public Works, and the Reunion Public House ensured a lively couple of days. Our highlights also included the Architecture Foundation’s gorgeous ’Bureau Spectacular: Three Little Words’, featuring an installation inspired by practice founder Jimenez Lai’s architectural comic strips (on display until the end of August).

Moving on to the City of London hub, we marveled at the future face of the capital, as envisaged by the Developing City exhibition (on until 9 September). Meanwhile, architects competed to create the cleverest and best-looking structures out of cans at the Canstruction event in Canary Wharf. Squire and Partners were deservedly crowned the winners with their gazebo-style structure, incorporating 2,580 cans that were carefully secured in hand-cut wooden inserts.

The London Pleasure Gardens hub had to battle some bad weather, but launched triumphantly regardless a few days ago. Here, visitors can stroll among follies, pavilions and pop ups in the East London park, as well as sit down and relax on one of the pews and perches conceived by architects for the RIBA London competition.

The Fitzrovia and Hoxton hubs also pulled in the crowds. The recently renovated Villa Tugendhat flung open its doors, and architect Harry Dobbs created the imaginative ’Weather - It’s Raining or Not’ collection of parasol-shaped structures. Another witty play on the British weather obsession came in the shape of design studio Troika’s ’The Weather Yesterday’ light installation.

Last but by no means least comes the Kings Cross hub, which will close the festival with a bang this weekend. David Rockwell’s Imagination Playground will make a guest appearance, while Squire and Partners are organizing a picnic over the pavement for visitors. And the recently opened Kings Cross Filling Station, designed by Carmody Groarke architects, will provide evenings of exiting conversation with its series of talks and events.

There is already talk about turning the biannual festival into an annual event. So, here’s hoping London will play host to another inspiring selection of architectural events in the summer of 2013.

As part of the Bankside Urban Forest scheme and Better Bankside, the Union Press invited local residents, journalists and even passers-by to create a one off publication

As part of the Bankside Urban Forest scheme and Better Bankside, the Union Press invited local residents, journalists and even passers-by to create a one off publication

The Union Press’ ad hoc printing took place in the street

The Union Press’ ad hoc printing took place in the street

The printing in action

The printing in action

The tiny street of Gibbon's Rent in Southwark - pictured before its festival transformation...
Photography by Mikey Lee

The tiny street of Gibbon's Rent in Southwark - pictured before its festival transformation...
Photography by Mikey Lee

... and after. Emerging Australian architect, Andrew Burns, and award-winning landscape architect, Sarah Eberle, turned it into a vibrant community garden
Photography by Mikey Lee

... and after. Emerging Australian architect, Andrew Burns, and award-winning landscape architect, Sarah Eberle, turned it into a vibrant community garden
Photography by Mikey Lee

The Gibbon's Rent garden hosted the London Festival of Architecture’s opening party
Photography by Mikey Lee

The Gibbon's Rent garden hosted the London Festival of Architecture’s opening party
Photography by Mikey Lee

The Gibbon's Rent garden hosted the London Festival of Architecture’s opening party
Photography by Mikey Lee

The Gibbon's Rent garden hosted the London Festival of Architecture’s opening party
Photography by Mikey Lee

'I see architecture as hard on the outside and soft on the inside', said Jimenez Lai at the opening of the exhibition
Photography courtesy of Daniel Hewitt

'I see architecture as hard on the outside and soft on the inside', said Jimenez Lai at the opening of the exhibition
Photography courtesy of Daniel Hewitt

London Pleasure Gardens is the capital’s newest open air festival and events venue at the Royal Victoria Docks
Photography by Agnese Sanvito

London Pleasure Gardens is the capital’s newest open air festival and events venue at the Royal Victoria Docks
Photography by Agnese Sanvito

Comprising follies and pop up installations, including an oyster bar, the London Pleasure Gardens launched during the festival and will remain open for the rest of the summer
Photography by Agnese Sanvito

Comprising follies and pop up installations, including an oyster bar, the London Pleasure Gardens launched during the festival and will remain open for the rest of the summer
Photography by Agnese Sanvito

The RIBA London spearheaded a series of architectural installations in the gardens
Photography by Agnese Sanvito

The RIBA London spearheaded a series of architectural installations in the gardens
Photography by Agnese Sanvito

The spirit of the park matches the festival’s ‘Playful City’ theme perfectly
Photography by Agnese Sanvito

The spirit of the park matches the festival’s ‘Playful City’ theme perfectly
Photography by Agnese Sanvito

The Oyster Bar by Visitor Studio is one of the London Pleasure Gardens key attractions
Photography by Agnese Sanvito

The Oyster Bar by Visitor Studio is one of the London Pleasure Gardens key attractions
Photography by Agnese Sanvito

The RIBA London was also behind the Pews & Perches competition, the products of which are installed around the gardens
Photography by Agnese Sanvito

The RIBA London was also behind the Pews & Perches competition, the products of which are installed around the gardens
Photography by Agnese Sanvito

Visitors take a break on a bench by architecture student Edward Grocott
Photography by Agnese Sanvito

Visitors take a break on a bench by architecture student Edward Grocott
Photography by Agnese Sanvito

David Rockwell’s Imagine National Playground will be part of the Kings Cross hub during the 2012 London Festival of Architecture this weekend
Courtesy of Imagination Playground by David Rockwell

David Rockwell’s Imagine National Playground will be part of the Kings Cross hub during the 2012 London Festival of Architecture this weekend
Courtesy of Imagination Playground by David Rockwell

Squire and Partners are planning an urban picnic at Kings Cross, which includes the St Chad's Place swing
photography courtesy Agnese Sanvito’

Squire and Partners are planning an urban picnic at Kings Cross, which includes the St Chad's Place swing
photography courtesy Agnese Sanvito’

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